"He Was Enjoying It": Doctor Accused Of Bamboo Cane Beating Of Fiance Told Police

'50 Shades Fan': Dr. Elvira Blakemore

A doctor accused of beating her fiancé with a bamboo cane told police her ex was "enjoying" the 50 Shades-inspired sex thrill, a jury heard yesterday.

Dr. Elvira Blakemore, 41, of Bournemouth Road, Holland-on-Sea, Essex denies assaulting 57 year-old businessman James Austin, causing him actual bodily harm, at his £3.65m home on June 7, last year.

She also denies a second assault at the gated property in Wood Way, Locksbottom Village on July 8, when she allegedly repeatedly punched him as he lay in bed.  

Mr. Austin told the jury the six-foot long bamboo garden cane broke into two or three pieces, but rejected Dr. Blakemore's lawyer Mr. Philip McGee's suggestion: "Every stroke of that cane is what you wanted."

He answered the door to police in his dressing-gown after dialling 999 just before 1am and in a statement PC Daniel Madigan said: "He removed his gown and his back was covered from buttocks to shoulders in red, raised lines, some of them bleeding."

The officer noted Mr. Austin saying: "I asked her to stop, but she didn't. She had a look of hate in her eyes, but I love her."

A sleeping Dr. Blakemore was woken upstairs and told police: "I don't trust him. He lied about this."

Paramedics also noted injuries they described as "extensive abrasions and welts" that looked like "they had been caused by a whip."

Dr. Blakemore prepared a statement and told police: "James started to use whips, canes and paddles to spice up our sex life. We used these objects on each other during sex and it was consensual and James always initiated it.

"Enjoying It": James Austin

"James caused me serious bruising to my chest during sex. I reported it to the police, but it was not investigated.

"He brought the cane to our bedroom and that means he wants to be whipped. I usually caned him first and he was making encouraging sexual noises, he was enjoying it. 

"Afterwards he jokingly said if he called the police and showed the marks how would I explain it."

When arrested for the second alleged assault Dr. Blakemore told police she was the victim of "five to seven" punches from Mr. Austin and blood officers saw on his chin must have been a shaving cut.

Chechnya-born Dr. Blakemore, who is divorced from her first English husband, told the jury she met Mr. Austin on Match.com. "It was a whirlwind, fairytale romance.

"On the fifth date James invited me to Paris, he was very charming and that's where he proposed. He went down on one knee.

"I had never met such a strong person as James. He's very powerful, a cut-throat businessman, but to me so caring and protective.

"I was absolutely in love with him."

Dr. Blakemore moved in with Mr. Austin, resigning from her £85,000 a year GP job in Sudbury, Suffolk and quitting her two cosmetic clinics, which brought in another £150,000 per year.

"We had sex every day, it was good, it was like a honeymoon period and the pregnancy was the most dream time I ever had in my life."

Trial continues…………     

Doctor Says Bamboo Cane Beating Was 50 Shades-Inspired Sex Thrill

Cane: Dr. Elvira Blakemore

A doctor, who enjoyed 50 Shades-inspired sadomasochistic sex with her millionaire businessman fiancé, claims injuries she inflicted with a bamboo cane were with his consent, a court heard yesterday.

Dr. Elvira Blakemore, 41, an NHS GP, says she and 57 year-old ladder entrepreneur James Edmund Austin used the cane on each other at least ten times at £3.65m Oak Manor, which sits in an exclusive private gated estate.

Father-of-five Mr. Austin, boss of BPS Access Solutions, which claims to be the UK's number one ladder company, told Croydon Crown Court he was the victim of a sudden attack which left the bedsheets covered in blood.

The couple had their engagement blessed in church earlier that day and invited guests to the house for a bbq and drinks, but according to Mr. Austin the evening was ruined by Dr. Blakemore's jealousy of his three grown-up sons from his first marriage.

"There had been snipes about my sons throughout and she referred to them as my 'daughters' as well as other insults and we both had quite a lot to drink," he explained.

"I went to bed and was more or less asleep when she entered the room raging and started hitting me with a garden cane.

"She was violently hitting me with the cane very many times on the back. There was a cut on my cheek also, but she just kept going and by the end there was blood on the bed."

He admitted previously taking the cane up to the bedroom as a joke about their mutual enjoyment of spanking, but insisted it had never been used before and was lying on top of the wardrobe.

Injuries James Austin

Mr. Austin did not initially respond to the blows, claiming he was too drunk and drowsy to fully appreciate what was going on.

"I was concerned I was being provoked and set-up and it was me that would be arrested so I did not respond and went downstairs.

"There was a further attack in the lounge. Elvira appeared in the room and she had another go with the same cane.

"When the cane broke she poured some wine on my back and said: 'Alcohol is good for the wounds.'

"There were a lot of marks on my back, there were twenty-five to thirty-five hits. I was hit as hard as she possibly could hit me. You can see how bad the injuries are.

"I was shocked at how bad my injuries were and the ambulance staff said I should go to A & E, but I did not want to leave the twins."

The pair had become engaged during a romantic stay at Paris's luxury five-star George V hotel and on the day of the blessing Mr. Austin bought a £20,000 ring and booked a £7,000 celebratory ten-day holiday.

Around midnight, according to Dr. Blakemore, she was naked and astride Mr. Austin on his insistence, reigning down blows with the cane, inflicting injuries, which she then poured champagne over. 

Dr. Blakemore, of Bournemouth Road, Holland-on-Sea, Essex, who until recently owned cosmetic surgeries in Switzerland and at her home, has pleaded not guilty to causing actual bodily harm on June 7, last year.

She also denies a separate count of common assault on July 8 at the five-bedroom house in Wood Way, Locksbottom Village, which sits in one acre of grounds and has an indoor swimming pool, gym and sauna.

"On that occasion Dr. Blakemore lost her temper and threw wine onto the carpet," explained prosecutor Mr. Dennis Kavanaugh. "Mr. Austin went to bed and she went upstairs.

"She followed him and repeatedly punched him in the left arm and punched him in the face and he ended up with a cut on his chin and called the police and locked himself in the en suite bathroom."

Divorced Mr. Austin met Dr. Blakemore via the internet in April 2012, she moved in with him six months later and he agreed to use his frozen sperm so his childless fiancé could have children and they now have two-and-a-half year-old twin sons.

"She expressed an interest in Fifty Shades Of Grey and I put it in her Christmas stocking and we both read it and she bought the second and third books herself.

"We went to Anne Summers in Bluewater Shopping Centre and bought certain items. One was called a spanking paddle and she produced certain stuff from her suitcase during the trip to France."

Mr. Austin also gave her a £500 Anne Summers gift voucher and bought a special Christmas Cracker from the sex shop, which contained lacy underwear.

She wore the underwear under a skimpy Mrs Santa costume she donned at Christmas when Mr. Austin's three sons were visiting the house.

The court also heard Mr. Austin signed a gift: 'Personal spanker to naughty Dr. Elvira' and she signed-off an email to him as: 'Personal Spanker.'

She administered anti-wrinkle botox to him and Mr. Austin admitted he also had the injections before meeting her as well as facial fillers and liposuction.

Mr. Austin drives a £157,000, six-litre Mercedes Sls supercar and Dr. Blakemore claims he told her: "I don't want a big bird. That's why I have a small two-seater car."

He denied making hurtful comments about her figure post pregnancy and encouraging her to have cosmetic surgery herself.

The businessman told the jury spanking was Dr. Blakemore's idea and she was usually the recipient and the cane was never used until the attack on him.

"At the start it was mostly her receiving, it did not do a lot for me. It began with just hands and then the paddle and Elvira was the recipient."

She even discussed their sex life in front of a friend of Mr. Austin's, who in turn bought the couple a small leather cat-o-nine tails whip. 

In January last year he cancelled their joint bank account. "She made some very extravagant purchases, seven hundred pounds on make-up from John Lewis and two thousand pounds on a mattress.

"She also said she would bring men back to the house and f*** them."

Before the alleged assaults Dr. Blakemore's lawyer sent Mr. Austin a letter demanding he hand the house over to her, pay a £100,000 lump sum, plus 20% of his income.

"She sees the children as a meal ticket," he told the jury, denying he set-up the cane beating to frame his ex.

The jury were shown a photograph police took of his back, which was covered in red marks from his shoulder blades down to the waistline, which Mr. Austin said took two weeks to heal.

He denied looking at the injuries immediately afterwards and telling Dr. Blakemore: "If I called the police and showed them the marks what would you do then?"

Officers were called to the address and the defendant arrested, but Mr. Austin initially dropped his complaint for the sake of their relationship and the family.

In March, last year he received a police caution for assaulting Dr. Blakemore by grabbing her wrists while she was texting. "She was goading me quite theatrically," Mr. Austin said.

The couple are also involved in bitter Family Court proceedings and currently share custody of the twins until a final determination after a social worker's report. 

Earlier Mr. Kavanaugh told the jury: "Police were summoned to the house after Mr. Austin rang them and said he had been seriously assaulted in a sustained fashion to his back by Dr. Blakemore.

"He said she took a bamboo cane and repeatedly hit him across his back and the officers saw a series of marks on his back."

Police seized three bamboo sticks and arrested Dr. Blakemore. "She said it was a completely malicious allegation and that he had consented to receiving the injuries and that they were of a sexual nature.

"Mr. Austin said whilst the couple had experimented sexually they had not hit each other with a cane and only used a paddle lightly and there were no injuries.

"Later he said he did not want her prosecuted because it was not good for the relationship or the children."

Trial continues…………

Former Children's Home Deputy Super Set To Stand Trial On Historic Sex Charges

The former deputy superintendent of a children's home will stand trial next year, accused of the abuse of a young boy four decades ago.

Roger Laing, 68, of Lytton Avenue, Letchworth Garden City worked at the home, located in Bromley, south-east London in the 1970's.

Yesterday a date was set for him to return on bail to Croydon Crown Court for trial on June 20.

Laing has pleaded not guilty to six counts of indecently assaulting the boy on various dates between July 16, 1974 and September 8, 1978.

He has also pleaded not guilty to a single count of buggery between July 16, 1974 and September 27, 1975.

Schoolgirl And Women Attacked And Groped In East London: CCTV Of Suspect Released

Police hunting a predator, who has targeted females in east London - molesting two women and throwing a schoolgirl to the ground - have released these CCTV images.

Detectives in Newham are hunting the offender and hope these images will help them trace a man they wish to question.

The first incident was around 12.30am on 15 March when the male suspect grabbed a 15-year-old girl from behind in Green Street, Newham.

The girl was picked up and thrown onto the ground before the man used his foot to press her head against the pavement.

She was not seriously injured and did not attend hospital.

Despite a police investigation, the suspect for this assault has not been identified.

Several months later, at around 7.30am on Thursday, 2 July, the same man approached a 29-year-old woman in Well Street, Stratford.

He sexually assaulted the woman by putting his hand up her dress.

At the same time the following day, 3 July, the man committed a near identical offence of sexual assault on a 20-year-old woman in Sprowston Road, Forest Gate.

This suspect is described as a black man, aged around 20 to 30 years of medium build with 'afro' style hair.

Anyone with information about the suspect, or who can identify the man shown in the CCTV images, is urged to call Newham CID on 020 8217 5881.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Peckham Knife Attack: CCTV Of Suspect Released

Police hunting a knifeman, who with two other men attacked a teenager in busy Peckham, have released this CCTV still of the suspect.

The 19 year-old was punched and kicked to the ground by the trio and suffered a cut to his hand as he tried to defend himself from the blade.

He was walking in Rye Lane at 3.15pm on April 22 when approached by the three males and after a brief verbal altercation, they attacked him - punching him to the ground then kicking him.

The victim managed to get to his feet and was chased by two of his attackers into a fast-food restaurant.

One of them pulled a knife and tried to stab him several times.

The victim received a cut to his hand as he defended himself and both men fled the venue.

The male suspect who remains unidentified is described as light skinned black male with long, braided hair, of slim build and approximately 6ft tall.

He was wearing a grey sweatshirt with the words 'Sneaker Freak' on the front and blue jeans.

The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated and later discharged.

A 21-year-old male was arrested on 20 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, with intent, and a second male was arrested on 14 July and released on police bail pending further enquires.

The third suspect, shown in the CCTV image holding a knife remains unidentified although it is believed that he may have links to the east London area.

Police are calling for help from the public to identify him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Tessa Lyle-Meller of Southwark CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 3011268/15.

Bus Schoolboys Threatened With Stabbing: CCTV Released

Police are hunting this aggressive teenager, suspected of threatening to stab five twelve year-old boys on a bus in east London.

Officers from Havering Safer Transport Team have released this CCTV image as the hunt continues.

The route 372 bus was travelling along Wennington Road near Lakeside Shopping Centre at 5.00pm on May 16 when two youths boarded the top-deck.

The younger boys were told they would be stabbed and a concerned passenger intervened, forcing the five boys off the bus, before alerting the driver. 



A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the incident and the second wanted suspect is described as white, aged about 16-years-old with a foreign, possibly eastern European accent.

He was wearing a black shiny Adidas jacket with white piping on the arms.



Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Kevin Sheppard on 07825 386 484 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting ref 179807.

Mum-Of-Six Guilty Of Running Over Cyclist In Her Powerful Audi And Demolishing Beauty Salon

Guilty: Natalie Pyne

A mum-of-six with a car full of children was convicted yesterday of the 'road rage' attempted wounding of a cyclist she mounted the pavement and ran over, also demolishing the front of a beauty salon.

Natalie Pyne, 31, had five youngsters in her powerful three-litre Audi Q7, which weighs over three metric tonnes, when she cut-up Simon Edgely, causing him to bump into the rear of her vehicle.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Mr. Edgely kicked the car twice and the pair had a screaming match in the middle of the busy road.

"She got back in and chose to drive deliberately, in anger, at Mr. Edgely and drove into him, knocking him off his bike, with the car carrying on and ploughing into the shop," said prosecutor Mr. James Lofthouse.

Thirty minutes earlier a salon employee was folding towels at the front of the shop, which bore the brunt of the damage. 

The jury unanimously found her guilty of attempting to cause Mr. Edgely grievous bodily harm, with intent, dangerous driving and causing over £20,000 worth of criminal damage to the salon.

Pyne, of Heatherdale Close, Kingston-upon-Thames, who has a previous conviction for dangerous driving while over the alcohol limit, was bailed until November 6 for a pre-sentence report.

She was also made subject to an immediate interim disqualification order, which prevents her from driving.

A witness saw the cyclist rolling over the bonnet of the white Audi and heard Pyne shouting: "Shut up" at her crying children after the car came to rest in the wreckage of Park Salon, Park Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

She had just left a park, where the children had been playing, at approximately 5.30pm on June 7, last year, when Mr. Edgely, who was wearing a badge indicating his disability, bumped into Pyne when she suddenly pulled out.

"What happened was a road rage incident," explained Mr. Lofthouse. "Mr. Edgely remonstrated and kicked her vehicle and she got out and remonstrated with him."

A woman driving behind, Frances Teague, told the court: "The driver got out and they were shouting with hands flinging at each other, but there was no contact.

"The lady got back in and the cyclist was leaning down and shouting through the window and kicked the passenger side of the car. He then got on his bike and cycled off on the pavement.

"The Audi was revving and just zoomed off in the same direction as the cyclist. It shot off quickly and turned to the left very fast.

"I saw the cyclist's head and then it disappeared. A parked van juddered as if it had been hit and the car went straight into the building."

Fortunately Mr. Edgely was not seriously injured. "He was up and walking around in a daze. He was agitated."

Mr. Lofthouse told the jury: "By driving at him deliberately and knocking him off she intended to cause Mr. Edgely very serious harm.

"By driving into the front of the salon she was reckless about the collateral damage and her driving over that short period was very dangerous indeed.

"She also caused substantial damage to a silver Mercedes Sprinter van that was parked."

Just thirty minutes earlier a member of the salon's staff was folding towels at the front of the shop Pyne wrecked.

When questioned by police Pyne claimed it was an accident outside of her control.

"She said she had children in the car and was panicking because the car would not start and an involuntary motion caused it to lurch onto the pavement.

"The lurch onto the pavement was not caused by an involuntary movement of the car," said Mr. Lofthouse. "She got back into the car, in anger, the red mist descended and she chose to drive into Mr. Edgely."

Sales Assistant Funded Vodka Binges With Cash From Till

A sales assistant, caught by a sharp-eyed customer pocketing cash from the till at the landmark department store he worked at, exposed a two-year £20,000 series of thefts to fund his vodka binges.

Adam James Harris, 47, of Redwood Place, Morewood Close, Sevenoaks immediately came under suspicion and CCTV cameras caught him trousering extra sums at the store, which had employed him for fourteen years.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to stealing cash from Elys department store, Wimbledon and was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes 150 hours community service work.

Elys investigated the previous five-years and discovered a £94,000 shortfall, but Harris maintained he took no more than £20,000 and had returned half of that sum while working at the store.

Prosecutor Miss Elizabeth Schofield told the court yesterday Harris's luck ran out on January 9, this year. “He was seen by a customer pocketing money taken out of the till.

“That was reported and he came under suspicion and his employer used CCTV to monitor him.

“He was caught red-handed on CCTV taking seventy pounds form the till on January 13 and putting it in his pocket.

“The investigation revealed he had covered his tracks by making false refunds for supposed unwanted gifts.

“Over a period of two years a large sum of money had been taken.”

Harris was arrested on January 13 and when his home was searched by police they seized £6,146 cash, which the court ordered to be confiscated.

The court heard Harris, who was on a modest £14,000 a year salary, was drinking half a bottle of vodka five nights a week.

“He took cash to pay for drink and small items such as taxi rides and nights out and would return the money the next day,” said Aneurin Brewer, defending the first-time offender.

Bachelor Harris now claims he has not touched alcohol for the last eight months.

Judge Peter Birts QC, accepting Harris was responsible for a loss of £10,000, told him: “You pleaded guilty to a serious offence of theft involving a breach of trust.

“Your employers trusted you to handle money and look after it and secretly, over two years, you were removing cash for your own purposes when you developed a drink problem.

“It really does raise an eyebrow when we have an original indictment that says ninety-four thousand pounds then reduced to twenty thousand and then an acceptance you paid back ten thousand pounds without being dicovered.

“It shows a lax system by your employer and an impoverished attitude towards repayments.

“Had your employer had a correct system you would not have been able to do this.”

Harris was ordered to pay Elys the balance of £3,854 at the rate of £75 per month.

Noodle Bar Employee's Late-Night Water-Damage Revenge

Waterboy: New Culture Revolution

A disgruntled noodle bar employee sneaked into his workplace in the early hours of the morning and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to electronic payment equipment during an on-going contractual dispute.

Simone La Barbera, 22, of Pipewell Road, Carshalton worked at the New Culture Revolution restaurant in King's Road, Chelsea, where he was caught on CCTV entering with borrowed keys at 1.30am.

Hammersmith Magistrates Court heard yesterday he dunked two hand-held payment card readers in a tub of water and poured more water over a receipt printer and the till, causing £3,000 worth of damage.

He pleaded guilty to burgling the restaurant on September 19, with intent to cause criminal damage, and was bailed until October 16 for a pre-sentence report.

The court heard La Barbera did not have permission to be on the premises at that time and the owner did not know he had a key.

CCTV captured him filling a tub with water in the kitchen and placing the two card readers inside and causing more water damage to the other equipment.

The owner identified him from the footage and the first-time offender was arrested by police, although he initially claimed he had nothing to do with it.

La Barbera's lawyer said he was in a “contractual dispute” and the defendant accepts this was no way to resolve his employment issues.

Husband Knocks Wife Out Cold During Celebratory Birthday Night

A Suffolk couple's weekend birthday celebrations ended in yet another row, with the husband knocking his wife unconscious and carrying her prone body around London's busy streets until shocked passers-by raised the alarm.

Powerfully-built Norman Goodchild, 28, of Fair Close, Beccles decked the mother of his two children, Gemma Martin, with a single blow, which caused a three-centimetre cut to the back of her head as she struck the pavement.

Highbury Corner Magistrates Court heard the couple have a history of domestic turbulence during their eight-year relationship, with Goodchild convicted of battery in 2009 and later receiving a caution for assault.

He has been forced to move out of town while on bail for the court case and now lives in Jubilee Close, Corston, Norwich.

Goodchild pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court to assaulting Gemma, causing her actual bodily harm, in St. Giles Street, Bloomsbury on August 8.

Yesterday he received twenty-six weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and must complete 180 hours community service work and complete a twenty-day rehabilitation requirement.

The court made a two-year restraining order, prohibiting him contacting Ms Martin or visiting the former matrimonial home, and he was ordered to pay a £180 court charge, £80 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Prosecutor Miss Penny Ferguson told the court today: “The defendant and Ms Martin have had an on-off relationship, which has a violent history and she says she has been assaulted in the past.”

They were celebrating Goodchild's twenty-eighth birthday in the West End and met another couple he knew, who lived locally, for night out.

“They went to a bar in Denmark Street, Soho, but the defendant and his friend kept going to the toilet and Ms Martin, tired of their drug-taking, decided to leave.”

Ms Martin was at the couple's nearby flat when Goodchild returned in a temper. “He said that she had made no effort to contact him and she said she had no mobile phone and did not know his number off by heart.

“The defendant grabbed his wife's bag and went back out onto the street, with Ms Martin following because it had all her possessions in it and she did not want to be stranded.

“She grabbed her friend's mobile phone on the way and a witness sitting in a parked van saw Goodchild snatch it out of her hand, stamp on it and throw it at her.

“The witness described the couple shouting in the street and this defendant slapping Ms Martin's face, causing her to fall to the floor and be knocked unconscious.

“Several witnesses then saw the defendant carrying the unconscious Ms Martin towards Charing Cross Road and passers-by persuaded him to put her down and an ambulance was called.

“As she was being treated by the ambulance crew Mr. Goodchild tried to get into the vehicle with her, but Ms Martin objected and he was ordered out.”

Goodchild did not wait for the police and returned to Beccles, where he handed himself into a local station and made no comment when questioned.

“Ms Martin says she does not remember anything between arguing in the street with her husband to waking up in the back of the ambulance,” added Miss Ferguson.

Goodchild's lawyer Mr. Nathan Seymour-Hyde said: “He's embarrassed and ashamed and has shown genuine remorse and says it is scary what could have happened.

“Both parties had consumed a lot of alcohol and Ms Martin had left the bar for a cigarette and not returned and Mr. Goodchild went to the flat an hour-and-a-half later.

“He says she tried to grab some keys from him and he turned instinctively, a rush of blood to the head, and then picked her up and was trying to carry her back to the flat.”

The lawyer said any restraining order would make things very difficult for Goodchild in having access to his two and four year-old children.

District Judge Julia Newton told him: “You have in the past received a suspended sentence for assaulting the same complainant and were also cautioned for assault.

“What happened in the early hours could have been much more serious than it ultimately was.”

Car Mum Accused Of Mowing Down Cyclist And Demolishing Salon During 'Road Rage' Row

A mum with a car full of children mounted the pavement and deliberately ran over an autistic cyclist during a "road rage" row, also demolishing the front of a beauty salon in the process, a court heard today.

Natalie Pyne, 31, was driving at least four youngsters in her powerful three-litre Audi Q7, which weighs over three metric tonnes, when she cut-up Simon Edgely, causing him to bump into the rear of her vehicle.

Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court heard Mr. Edgely kicked the car twice and the pair had a screaming match in the middle of the busy road.

"She got back in and chose to drive deliberately, in anger, at Mr. Edgely and drove into him, knocking him off his bike, with the car carrying on and ploughing into the shop," said prosecutor Mr. James Lofthouse.

A witness saw the cyclist rolling over the bonnet of the white Audi and heard Pyne shouting: "Shut up" at her crying children after the car came to rest in the £20,000 wreckage of Park Salon, Park Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

She had just left a park, where the children had been playing, at approximately 5.30pm on June 7, last year, when Mr. Edgely, who was wearing a badge indicating his disability, bumped into Pyne when she suddenly pulled out.

"What happened was a road rage incident," explained Mr. Lofthouse. "Mr. Edgely remonstrated and kicked her vehicle and she got out and remonstrated with him."

A woman driving behind, Frances Teague, told the court: "The driver got out and they were shouting with hands flinging at each other, but there was no contact.

"The lady got back in and the cyclist was leaning down and shouting through the window and kicked the passenger side of the car. He then got on his bike and cycled off on the pavement.

"The Audi was revving and just zoomed off in the same direction as the cyclist. It shot off quickly and turned to the left very fast.

"I saw the cyclist's head and then it disappeared. A parked van juddered as if it had been hit and the car went straight into the building."

Fortunately Mr. Edgely was not seriously injured. "He was up and walking around in a daze. He was agitated."

Mr. Lofthouse told the jury: "By driving at him deliberately and knocking him off she intended to cause Mr. Edgely very serious harm.

"By driving into the front of the salon she was reckless about the collateral damage and her driving over that short period was very dangerous indeed.

"She also caused substantial damage to a silver Mercedes Sprinter van that was parked."

When questioned by police Pyne claimed it was an accident outside of her control.

"She said she had children in the car and was panicking because the car would not start and an involuntary motion caused it to lurch onto the pavement.

"The lurch onto the pavement was not caused by an involuntary movement of the car," said Mr. Lofthouse. "She got back into the car, in anger, the red mist descended and she chose to drive into Mr. Edgely."

Pyne has pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause Mr. Edgely grievous bodily harm, with intent; dangerous driving and criminal damage.

Trial continues……………  

Audacious Art Thief Hunted After Bronze Sculpture Sneaked Out Of Mayfair Gallery

Police are hunting this audacious suspected thief, who they believe walked out of a Mayfair art gallery with a £40,000 bronze statue.

The man browsed and even chatted with the manager of the gallery in Maddox Street, which noticed the 'Horizontal Birdman 1' art piece was gone after he left.

Detectives in Westminster have released this CCTV image of the suspect, who they wish to trace.

On Friday, June 26 between 5:30pm and 5:50pm the suspect is believed to have stolen the 1962 limited edition statue by artist Elisabeth Frink - inscribed on the underside with 'Frink 10/10'.



The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 6ft, of medium build, with medium length greying hair on the sides.

He was wearing glasses, a light blue shirt and dark suit and was carrying a black sports bag.



Detective Constable Kevin Eade, of Westminster CID said: "It appears the suspect has specifically targeted this piece and picked his moment.

“He took his time first browsing around the art gallery and speaking with the manager before stealing the statue.

“Anyone who recognises the man pictured please come forward."



Anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Constable Kevin Eade on 020 7321 7623 or call 101 quoting CRIS reference 6527624/15 or call Crimestoppers Anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Brittle-Bone Woman Flattened By Zimmer-Frame Bus Passenger During Priority Seating Row

A young woman with brittle-bone condition osteoporosis was punched to the floor of a bus by this disabled suspect during a dispute over a priority seat.

Police are releasing this CCTV image of a woman, who used a walking frame, they would like to speak to in connection with the assault on the 22 year-old travelling on a bus in Westminster. 



The incident occurred on Thursday, March 12 at 3:38pm on board a route 73 bus. 



The victim, who was sitting in the priority seating area at the front of the bus, got up to leave at Great Titchfield Street.

The suspect elbowed her hard in the stomach, causing her to fall back onto the floor. 



She later went to hospital and was treated for a suspected broken rib.



The suspect is described as a woman of Mediterranean appearance, aged about 60 years-old with short grey hair and wearing glasses.



Anyone with information is asked to contact Westminster Safer Transport team on 020 7321 9666 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting ref: 174630.

Savile Row Tailoring Entrepreneur Thumped Stranger Asking For Directions

A young Savile Row tailoring entrepreneur, who boasts of a champagne-fuelled jet-set lifestyle, drunkenly punched a man in the face who asked him for directions near Sloane Square.

Privately-educated James Oliver Beckett-Dunn, 29, who attended £10,630 a term Pangbourne College, Berkshire says he is battling alcoholism and recovering from cancer.

He left victim Ghali El Jalil Hamoudi with a bloody nose after launching the unprovoked midnight attack during a night out with drinking pals.

Beckett-Dunn, of The Maltings, Spring Grove, Kew Bridge, Chiswick, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr. Hamoudi, on September 1 outside Chelsea Cloisters.

His LinkedIn profile claims he is a partner in Tom James, a global custom clothing company based in Old Jewry, Bank of England specialising in made-to-measure suits and home fittings.

The company own 170 year-old clothier merchant Holland and Sherry of Savile Row, whose luxury fabrics were transformed into suits worn by actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie The Great Gatsby.

Tom James suits start at £779 and custom-made shirts at £99 and Oxford University graduate Beckett-Dunn portrays himself as a tailor to the stars.

Prosecutor Miss Kate Shilton told Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday: "Shortly before midnight the complainant was outside Chelsea Cloisters in Sloane Square.

"He approached two males and one of them was Mr. Beckett-Dunn to ask for directions.

"As he got closer Mr. Beckett-Dunn told him to: 'F*** off.' He was angry and seemed to move from side to side.

"He was asked why he was aggressive and Mr. Beckett-Dunn approached the complainant and punched him with his right fist on the nose with great speed as if he wanted to knock him out.

"Mr. Beckett-Dunn said he was: 'A piece of shit' and that was what he deserved.

"There were no injuries, but the victim thought he had broken his nose because there was blood on his face, but that did not seem to be the case.

"In his interview with the police Mr. Beckett-Dunn said he did not remember what happened and was intoxicated. He had been to a bar and was on a lot of medication and was seeing a psychiatrist.

"He said he was shocked and sorry to have hurt the man. This was a serious assault."

First-time offender Beckett-Dunn told the court: "I deeply regret it. I've been very poorly for two years and have not worked for two years.

"Cancer led to mental health issues. I am on twenty-one tablets a day. I'm struggling with alcoholism and with mental health issues."

His online profile also says he is on the Board of Advisors at Big Wolf Marketing Ltd and the owner of Bow Creek Cafe in Trinity Buoy Wharf, Docklands.

He also claims to be former volunteer street pastor with Christian organisation Ascension Trust.

Deputy District Judge Joanna Matson told Beckett-Dunn: "This was an unprovoked attack on a gentleman asking for directions.

"This was a very hard punch on a gentleman asking for directions."

Beckett-Dunn brought medical records with him to show to the court, but added: "This is not justification for anything I did."

He was bailed until October 22 for a pre-sentence report and alcohol treatment order assessment on condition he doesn't contact the victim directly or via social media.

Pangbourne College alumni include late film director Ken Russell; journalist Jefferson Hack; writer Jeffrey Bernard and double Olympic gold medal yachtsman Rodney Pattisson MBE.

Plane Passenger Thumped Air Steward During Whiskey Row

A whiskey-swigging plane passenger, who refused to leave a Delhi-bound jet, thumped an air steward while shouting a string of obscenities.

Ashwani Mehta, 60, of Trenchard Lodge, Trenchard Crescent, Springfield, Chelmsford claims he was not drunk, but the small amount of alcohol he consumed reacted with medication he was taking.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to assaulting Rob Clare-Campbell at Heathrow Airport on April 28 on board a Jet Airways Boeing 777.

The prosecution dropped a charge of being drunk on an aircraft.

Prosecutor Mr. James O'Connell told the court yesterday: “The defendant was causing trouble on the plane and the crew, including the complainant, formed the view he was under the influence of alcohol.

“He accepted he had some alcohol and there was a discussion about him sitting quietly so the plane could take off, but that did not get anywhere and he was asked to leave the plane.

“He was told he would be booked onto the next flight and this caused an escalation with the defendant saying: 'You police shoot people.'

“He grabbed a water bottle and hit himself with it while shouting in Hindi and the complainant recognised some of the words as: 'Go f*** yourself. F*** your sister.'

“He punched out at the victim, catching him in the neck and causing a small cut and ripped off Mr. Clare-Campbell's identity badge.”

Afterwards the vicim said he was “upset and shaken” and it was first time he had been assaulted in twenty years working in the industry.

Mehta's lawyer Mr. Paul Evans said: “He has a modest drinking problem and when he does drink it triggers and adverse reaction from the number of medications that he is on.

“He was spoken to by the staff in a manner that he felt was more than rude.

“He has no real memory of the incident, but does regret his actions.”

The Recorder of Kensington and Chelsea Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson told Mehta, who lives on Disability Living Allowance: “I accept you were not drunk, but having drunk some whiskey you gave the impression, due to the medication, that you were.

“You were carrying an open bottle of whiskey and if this had happened while the plane was in the air custody would be on the cards.

“Mr. Clare-Campbell was doing his job.”

Mehta was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes a twenty-day rehabilitation requirement and he was ordered to pay £50 costs, plus a victim surcharge and court charge.

Disgraced Pervert Doctor Cleared Of Fresh Sex Abuse Claims

A disgraced doctor, jailed and then struck-off for sexually abusing female patients during a decade-long campaign of abuse, had fresh charges against him dropped yesterday.

Dr. Markandu Ragupathy, 64, of Den Close, Beckenham, who has served a two-year sentence and been released from prison, always denied the new charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence on day one of his Croydon Crown Court trial.

Dr. Ragupathy had pleaded not guilty to three counts of gross indecency against the same girl, aged under sixteen years-old, between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2003 at an address in Catford, south-east London.

In May, 2012 he received a two-year sentence after a Woolwich Crown Court trial, which heard he sexually assaulted female patients – one as young as eight - over a 10-year period.

He preyed on vulnerable patients, touching them for his own sexual gratification, while he worked at Catford's Torridon Road practice.

But incredibly, despite complaints about his behaviour from the mid-90s, the doctor was allowed to carry on working and his offences continued until 2005.

The jury heard how one eight-year-old, who came in with abdomen pain, had her thigh touched by Ragupathy before he put his hand under her knickers.

When the child's mother complained she received a letter back saying the doctor's treatment had been appropriate.

On other occasions the 61-year-old touched women's breasts, either with his hands or kneading them with a stethoscope.

He also visited one woman at her home, persuading her to sit on his knee.

Judge Andrew Lees told him: "These eight female patients trusted you as their doctor to carry out proper examinations.

"You abused that trust by touching them in sexual ways."

He added: "When complaints were made to the surgery you would explain that the concern felt by the patients was the result of misunderstanding."

Ragupathy was convicted of seven indecent assaults, an attempted indecent assault and sexual assault.